Animated wheeled toy



April 8; 1952 Filed Feb. 24, 1951 J. H. GONDA ANIMATED WHEELED TOY 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. 7 06/7 /7. 60/704 April 8, 1952 Filed Feb. 24, 1951 J. H. GONDA ANIMATED WHEELED TOY 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. @7560 Gave a.

r4 7' TOIF/VEK April 8, 1952 J. H. GONDA ANIMATED WHEELED TOY 5 Sheeps-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 24, 1951 IN V EN TOR. J/im 6000 0.

A 7 TO/EVV'K April 8, 1952 J. H. GONDA ANIMATED WHEELED TOY 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 24, 1951 l I l I I l I I II I I I I 1 INVENTOR- c7a/lw A. fie/7d.

BY 7 V/ A 7'0/F/VEK April 8, 1952 J. H. GONDA 2,591,804

ANIMATED WHEELED TOY Filed Feb. 24, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 IHT AE.

IN VEN TOR.

ATTO/EA EK Patented Apr. 8, 1952 I'UNITED. STATE'S PATENT 7 OFFICE Application February 2 J 1 This invention relates'to a wheeled toy and more particularly to a wheeled toy taking" the form of a tricycle, the body portion of which is 'formed to simulatea pony.

The principal object of the invention is the provision of a wheeled toy incorporating several novel features making possible the economic and practical formation of the toy. 7

A further object of the invention is the provision of a wheeled toy having the body portion 'formedof metal stampings arranged to pivot with respect to one another and to carry the axles and wheels of the toy. v

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a wheeled toy, the body portion of Y which simulates an animal figureand includes a saddle adjustably positioned on the back thereof. A still further object of the invention is the provision of a wheeled toy taking the form of an animal figure and including a front wheel positioned-between the front legs of the animal figure and adjustably mounted with respect thereto.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a wheeled toy comprising an animal 'figure'mounted on wheels and including a combination steering gear simulating the reins and bitcommonly used on a pony or horse.

" 1. The improvements in wheeled toys as disclosed herein relate primarily to" the novel formation and arrangement of the component parts of the wheeled toy and including means making possible the economic and practical production of the 'toy. 'The diificulties heretofore experienced in attempting to form tricycles having bodies simulating animals have been overcomeinthe present disclosurewherein a number of stamped metal parts are assembled and welded to form a superstructure with means for adjustably positioning a-saddle, a steering gear and the wheels with r esp ect thereto. I r

' With the foregoing and other objects in view which'will appear as the description proceeds,- the invention resides in the combination and arrangementof parts and .in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being; the intention to cover all changes and modificationsof the example of the invention herein chosen for purposes of the disclosure, which do noti constitute departures from the spirit and scopeof the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein: l l v Figure 1 is a side elevation of the wheeled, toy.

zg-jFigure2is a-top plan view.

. 35Claims. (Cl. 2801.188)

4, 1951. Serial No. 212,586

I Figure 3 is an enlarged side elevation of a portion. of the wheeled "toy shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a horizontal section taken on line 4-4 of Figure 3.

one of the front legs of the wheeled toy shown in Figure 1 of thedrawings. 1

Figure 6 is a vertical section on line 66 0 Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a vertical section through the middle body section of .the wheeled toy showing the pivotal arrangement.

Figure 8 is' a vertical section on line 8-8 of Figure 7. -Figure 9 is a plan view of a portion of the handlebars.

Figure 10 is a front view of the handle bar assembly.

Figure 11 is an enlarged detailed View of a portion of the handle bar assembly with parts broken away and partsin cross section.

Figure 12 is a top plan view of the saddle. Figure 13' is an end elevation of the saddle. Figure 14 is a side elevation of the saddle.

By referring to the drawings-and Figures 1 and 2 in particular it willbe seen that the wheeled toy disclosed herein comprises a simulated pony, the rear legs of which are supported on a transverse axle carrying ground engaging wheels and the front legs of which are secured to an axle carrying a single wheel positioned between the front legs. 1 The axle comprises a crank equipped with pedals so that a child seated on the'back of the simulated pony is ineffect positioned on a tricycle and is able to movethe toy by engaging "the pedals on the crank with its feet. The toy is steered by a handle bar arrangement and the simulated pony is pivoted verticallyimmediately *forward of the saddle area to enable'the device to 'be' turned and satisfactorily steered.

' "In Figures 1 and 2'of the drawingsthe .rear ground engaging wheels are indicated by the numerals ID, the front wheel by the numeral II, the rear portion of the simulated pony body by the numeral I2 and the front portion by the numeral l3. The rear legs l4 form extensions of the body portion 12 and include vertical half sections A welded tothe extensions! to form tubular rear legs. The front legs 15 form extensions of the body portion I 3 and include a .head portion IS. The body portions IZand l3 are engaged one within the other, as best shown (in Figure 7 of the drawings, and secured to one another .by a pivot I! which is positioned at an angle from vertical. The rear body portion l2 Figure 5 is an enlarged detail of a portion of carries a movably positioned saddle l8 and the said rear body portion 12 is secured to the front body portion through the medium of a U-shaped bracket 19, the arms of which are apertured and engaged on the pivot l1 and also secured to the rear body portion I2 as by welding the same thereto. The rear body portion 12 is formed of right and left half sections tack welded together on their vertical center line and the front body portion 13' is formed of right and: left half sections tack welded together on their vertical center line. As shown in Figure 4 of the draw.-

ings, the edges of the sections abut continuously and are preferably overlapped to form a smooth unbroken connection between the respective half sections.

13B, respectively.

It will be observed that the rear portion of the front body portion I3 is formed in a projecting semi-circular shape. 20,. thecenten of which. corresponds with the center-of the pivot: l1. Inassembled' relation, as shown in. Figure L of the drawings, the semi-circular extension. of: the

front body portion I3 is substantially.- covered by. the open end-of. therear'portion. l2 and due to the circular formation; of the extension. 20, the open. front end of. the: rear portion l2- acts as a socket for the semi-circular extension: 20. This. enables the frcnt'body' portion l3 to. turn on the vertical axis ofrthe; pivot [21 with tliesemicircular extension 20 rotatinginthe operr front end of therear'body. portion: l2.

The saddle I8 is mounted on the rearbody portion: I12. by the formation of a slot in the upper spring member: engages. the slot; at all times to hold thesaddle l8'irr desiredrposition...

Flaps 22 are attached to. the saddle. l8 one at; each side thereof and dependtherefrom and overlie. the: side sections; of. the rear body. portion; I:2.. A representation. of: a saddle blanket 23- is formed on the rear body-portiorr'l2;so that the: simulated. pony is. complete in. all details. Therear legs Hl-M terminate in hoofs 24. The lower: portions of: the: hoofs 24 are formed of separate. portions: which: are provided: with; plates 25;. The:plates.2-5 are-apertured so'that they can be bolted to a step 26- which ispositioned directly overthe: rear axle 2:1. The. ends 28-28 of the step: are. apertured therebypositioning the axle 2.! longitudinally of the-step 26; and" transversely with: respect to' therrean legs. l4-l-4- of the toy. The ground engaging: wheels I'll-l0: are positioned. on the ends: of the: axle 21 and secured bym'eansknown intherart.

The-.-legs It on: the front: portion I3: of the. toy

are spaced with respect to one another a. diskeyed; tothewheel H: so thatmotion imparted The right and left half sections are indicated in Figure 3 by thenumerals. l-3A and- 4 to the crank 29 through the pedals 30 will be transmitted to the wheel 1 I.

In order that the middle portion of the crank 29 (which serves as a front axle for the wheel ll) may be adjusted for desirable horizontal alignment and to insure proper spacing of the wheel II with respect to the front legs I5, the lower portions of each of the front legs l5 are formed as shown in Figures 3, 5 and 6 of the drawings-to include retainer plates 3| which are welded' to the lower portions of the legs l5 and each of which retainer plates include a horizontal flange 32 across its uppermost portion and a vertical. flange 33 on its forward edge. The retainer plates 3| are both slotted upwardly from their lowermost edge as at 34 to permit the middlesectionof the crank 29 to be engaged therein. The adjacent lower portion of each of the legs (5: is also slotted as at 35 for the same purpose.

A bearing retainer 36 which comprises a flanged rectangular. plate, the. center area 31 of which is formedwith adepression for the reception of a standard ball; bearing assembly, is located against the retainer plate 3| and beneath theflange 3.2 thereon and against: the flange 33- thereon, as best shown in-Figuresfrand 6. of the drawings. The bearing retainer 36 is also apertured as at 38 sothat the middle portion of the crank 29 maybe passed .therethrough. It: will be observed by those skilled in the. art that shims. (not shown) can be positioned betweenthe flanges 32 and 33- and the bearing retainer 36 if desired to-properly adjust" the same with respect to the retainer plate- 3| and the leg l5 thereby making possible the desired horizontal alignment of the.- crank. 29. and-hence the front wheel ll which: is secured thereto.

The assembly is secured together by a.pair of bolts, 39 which are passed upwardly through the bearingretainer 36- and; engaged in threaded orifices 40 in the'flange32 of. theretainer plate 3|. Itwill beobserved that the. flange 32 is doubledby theaddition of a; second section 32A so-that-suflicient stock is available. to, enable the bolts 38,to-be.properly threaded thereinto. The

shims. heretofore mentioned but not. shown in the drawings are actually positionedbetween the upper. horizontal surface of, the/bearing retainer 3% and the portion 32A. of the; flange 32, when used..

By, referring.- now to'F-igures. 4;. 7 and 8 of the drawings it.will be seen that the. particular pivot structure including the pivot H is arranged for easy formation and rapid assembly as the'pivot is provided; with oppositely disposed annular bearing. surfaces. 4 i which are positioned against the respective inner sides of the arms of' the U-shapedbracket. l9 and adapted to engage oppositely disposed. ball bearing: assemblies 42-42 which are formed with annular flanges. 43-43 serving to. locate the same in openings. 44-44 formed in vertical alignment. inthesemi-circular extension 20- of the frontbodyportion 13.. The pivot. H is provided with ahead HA at its lower.- most end. and threaded. at. its. uppermost end for the reception of a nut 45. The nut. 45 and the upper. end of the pivot 11 are. apertured so that a. cotter pin 46 may be positioned through the" same to hold the assembly in position. It will thus be seen that the front portion I3 of the wheeled toy and particularly the semi-circular extension 20- thereon carries thepivot I! which in turn is positioned through the apertured arms of the U-shaped bracket l ft and the U-shaped bracket I9 is in turn welded; in position in the foremost portion of the rear portion l2 of the wheeled toy.

This construction enables a relatively rapid rate of assembly to be achieved in the production of the toy and at the same time insures a suitable turning radius for the front portion of the toy with respect to the rear portion. The nut 45 and the cotter pin 46 as well as the upper threaded end of the pivot I! are covered in the finished assembly as shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings by the application of a sheet metal cap 47 which is in turn afiixed to the front portion l3 of the toy by a suitable fastener.

In order that the toy may be steered, suitable steering gear is provided, as may be seen by referring to Figures 1, 2, 9, 10 and 11 of the drawings, and takes the form of a transverse handle bar 48 having handle grips 49 on the opposite ends thereof. A pair of brackets 5950. .are attached to the head portion It at right angles thereto as by being welded thereto so that they provide transversely aligned portions for receiving the transverse handle bar 48.

The brackets 5050 are U-shaped in cross sectionand provided with angular depending portions l5| as best seen in Figures and 11 of The transverse handle bar 48 is l the drawings. cradled in the U-shaped sections of the brackets 50-50 and secured therein by bolts 52 positioned therethrough and engaged in threaded apertures in the orifices in the U-shaped brackets 50-50.

By referring again to Figure 1 of the drawings it will be observed that a bit 53 is positioned transversely of the head portion It so that its outermost ends extend beyond the sides of the 4 head portion l6. Openings formed in the ends of the bit 53 provide for the engagement of D-shaped rings 5454 which in turn are secured to the ends of arein 55. The rein 55 is of a length sufficient to enable it to extend backwardly over a horn 59 on the saddle l8 and it will be observed that the bit 53 is positioned in a transverse opening 5'! formed in the head portion It as shown in enlarged detail in Figure 3 of the drawings.

It will thus be seen that a wheeled toy has been disclosed which is capable of being efiiciently produced at relatively low cost and easily assembled. The pivotal connection between the respective front and rear body portions of the toy enable the toy to present a life-like appearance and at the same time incorporate the necessary turning action between the front portion and the rear portion. The toy is dissimilar from tricycles heretofore known in the art as there is noframe as such but rather the front and rear stamped metal body portions welded to one another in opposed relation and pivotally secured to one another to form the entire superstructure of the toy.

Having thus described my invention, what I I claim is:

. upper edge and a vertically flanged rear edge and a bearing retainer member and bolts securing the said bearing retainer member to said retainer plate, the said crank having bearing assemblies spaced thereon and positioned in said bearing retainers.

2. In a wheeled vehicle having a body portion simulating an animal comprising front and rear body portions, the rear body portion being open at the forward end thereof and having fixedly secured therein a substantially U-shaped bracket, the legs of the bracket extending beyond the opening and having vertically aligned holes adjacent each of their ends, the front body portion having a substantially semi-circular, in vertical section, reduced extension extending rearwardly th refrom, the extension fitting into the opening in the forward end of the rear body portion. and within the U-shaped bracket, the extension having vertically aligned holes in the upper and lower parts thereof, the holes of each of the U-shaped bracket and extension being aligned when the extension is fitted into the opening of the rear body portion, inwardly projecting circular de .pressions surrounding the aligned openings in the extension, bearing means positioned in the depressions, a pivot pin insertable through the aligned hole of the U-sh-aped bracket and extension, and means for fastening the pin in place so that one body portion may be freely moved with respect to the other body portion while the body portions are joined together by a continuously closed joint to simulat the animal.

3. In a wheeled vehicle as set forth in claim 2 whereinthe pivot pin has surfaces thereon cooperating with the bearing means to aid the free movement of one body portion relative to the other body portion. 1

JOHN H. GO-NDA.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 350,723 Crandall Oct. 12, 1886 613,375 Kellogg Nov. 1, 1898 827,012 Grove July 24, 1906 948,257 Smith Feb. 1, 1910 1,270,169 Kester June 18, 1918 1,837,541 Gill Dec. 22, 1931 2,177,552 Ruble Oct. 24, 1939 2,518,899 Kelleher Aug. 15, 1950 

